Conveyor chain assemblies

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a chain scraper assembly in which scraper bars are secured at spaced intervales to chain lenghts. The inventive feature resides in the means for connecting the scraper bar to the conveyor chain by means of a connector having transverse slots adapted to receive a chain link, the chain link being secured in position within the slots by a pin or pins inserted in a hole or holes provided in the connector and so angled as to cut through the bottom of the outer slot and merge in the side wall of the inner slot, the inner end of the or each pin, when the link is in position, making engagement with the outer face of inside limb of the link.

United States Patent 1191 Collier 1 June 5, 1973 [54] CONVEYOR CHAINASSEMBLIES [73] Assignee: Parsons Chain Company Limited,

Stowport-on-Severn, England 22 Filed: Sept. 15, 1971 21 Appl. No.:180,627

[5 6] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,522,875 8/1970 Sme'rd....l98/176 2,524,186 10/1950 Beninger ..l98/l75 Primary ExaminerRichardE. Aegerter Attorney-Donald M. Wight, Charles E. Brown and Vincent L.Ramik et al.

57 ABSTRACT The invention relates to a chain scraper assembly in whichscraper bars are secured at spaced intervales to chain lenghts. Theinventive feature resides in the means for connecting the scraper bar tothe conveyor chain by means of a connector having transverse slotsadapted to'receive a chain link, the chain link being secured inposition within the slots by a pin or pins inserted in a hole or holesprovided in the connector and so angled as to cut through the bottom ofthe outer slot and merge in the side wall of the inner slot, the innerend ofthe or each pin, when the link is in position, making engagementwith the outer face of inside limb of the link.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures CONVEYOR CHAIN ASSEMBLIES This inventionrelates to conveyor chain assemblies having scraper bars attached atregular intervals, the chains being connected to individual scrapers byconnectors.

The present invention is concerned with an improved design of connector.Connectors take various forms, those in which the connector is made upof (i) multiple interlocking components and (ii) one-piece member. Wherethe connector is in one piece and comprises transverse slots to receiveopposite limbs of a chain link, the slots being separated by a centraltongue and bounded by inner and outer side walls, it is necessary tosecure the chain link in position by deforming the metal of theconnector to enclose the link or by mechanical means, e.g. a pin.

According to the present invention in a connector formed of a one-piecemember having transverse slots separated by a central tongue to receivethe chain link, the link is secured in position within the slots bymeans such as a pin or pins, which is so positioned in relation to itspoints of engagement with the respective limbs of the link that it isheld under tension by reaction therewith.

In one such arrangement the pin bears on the inner limb of the chainlink and also with that part of the outer limb which faces the inside ofthe slot. For this purpose the head of the connector is drilled toprovide a pin hole or holes which intersects the bottom of the outerslot and at its or their inner ends emerges at a point in the side wallof the inner slot so that a line drawn through the perimeter of the holewould lie in a plane which is tangential to the surface of the link.

Preferably the link is held in position by two pins each bearing asaforesaid against the inner limb of the link so that the latter isenclosed within its slot.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a connector in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention and showing a chain link in position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a one-piece connectorcomprising a body part 1 terminating in an enlarged head 2 in which aretransverse slots 3, 4, separated by a central tongue 5.

In the connector of this invention the chain link indicated at C is heldin position by two pins 6 inserted in angularly inclined bores open attheir upper ends at 7 on the upper face of the connector and 2 and atthe lower ends in the inner side wall of the tongue 5. The two boresmerge with the bottom wall of the outer slot 3 so that each pin isexposed in order to make contact as indicated at 8 with one limb of thechain link C, contact with the other limb being made by the protrudingend of the pins as indicated at 10.

It will be appreciated that by reason of the pins having frictionalengagement with the respective limbs of the link in this manner the pinsare placed under tension and thus the link is firmly retained inposition. The pin may be tapered at one end so as to set up a wedgingaction and-thereby increase the thrust exerted through the pin on theopposite limb of the link.

The connector of this invention can be used not only in the manufacture.of continuous chain conveyor assemblies but also as a convenient meansof repairing a scraper assembly having clamp-on or other types ofconnectors.

What is claimed is:

1. In a chain scraper conveyor assembly having two chain rows andscraper bars connected at their ends to selected links of chain runs byconnectors, each connector having an upper surface and a lowersurfacefonned by inner and outer transverse slots and a central tonguetherebetween, each slot opening in a direction away from said uppersurface and having a base wall portion more closely adjacent thereto,the improvement comprising means for securing a chain link within theslots, said chain link securing means including a bore at each connectorextending diagonally through said connector from the upper surfacethereof and into said central tongue, said bore further emerging intosaid outer transverse slot through said base wall portion threof, aretaining pin in said bore, and a surface of said retaining pin beingexposed through said bore into said inner transverse slot.

2. The improvement in a chain scraper conveyor assembly as defined inclaim 1 including an another and identically formed bore in saidconnector and a retaining pin therein.

3. A connector for securing scraper bars to links of chains of the typein which each connector includes an upper surface and a lower surfaceformed by inner and outer transverse slots and a central tonguetherebetween, each slot opening in a direction away from the uppersurface and having a base wall portion more closely adjacent thereto,the improvement comprising means for securing a chain link within theslots,-said chain link securing means including a bore in each connectorextending diagonally through said connector from the upper surfacethereof and into said central tongue, said bore further emerging intosaid outer transverse slot through said base wall portion thereof, aretaining pin in said bore, and a surface of said retaining pin beingexposed through said bore into said inner transverse slot.

4. The connector as defined in claim 3 including an another andidentically formed bore in said connector and a retaining pin therein.

1. In a chain scraper conveyor assembly having two chain rows andscraper bars connected at their ends to selected links of chain runs byconnectors, each connector having an upper surface and a lower surfaceformed by inner and outer transverse slots and a central tonguetherebetween, each slot opening in a direction away from said uppersurface and having a base wall portion more closely adjacent thereto,the improvement comprising means for securing a chain link within theslots, said chain link securing means including a bore at each connectorextending diagonally through said connector from the upper surfacethereof and into said central tongue, said bore further emerging intosaid outer transverse slot through said base wall portion threof, aretaining pin in said bore, and a surface of said retaining pin beingexposed through said bore into said inner transverse slot.
 2. Theimprovement in a chain scraper conveyor assembly as defined in claim 1including an another and identically formed bore in said connector and aretaining pin therein.
 3. A connector for securing scraper bars to linksof chains of the type in which each connector includes an upper surfaceand a lower surface formed by inner and outer transverse slots and acentral tongue therebetween, each slot opening in a direction away fromthe upper surface and having a base wall portion more closely adjacentthereto, the improvement comprising means for securing a chain linkwithin the slots, said chain link securing means including a bore ineach connector extending diagonally through said connector from theupper surface thereof and into said central tongue, said bore furtheremerging into said outer transverse slot through said base wall portionthereof, a retaining pin in said bore, and a surface of said retainingpin being exposed through said bore into said inner transverse slot. 4.The connector as defined in claim 3 including an another and identicallyformed bore in said connector and a retaining pin therein.